New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday congratulated German Chancellor Angela Merkel for the "splendid victory" of her country`s football team in just-wrapped FIFA World Cup held in Brazil.

In a series of tweets, Syed Akbaruddin, the official spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs, said Modi phoned Merkel from his hotel Steinberger during a short technical halt in Frankfurt while coming back to home from Brazil, and invited her to India for India-Germany Consultations (IGC) next year.
During his conversation, the PM vowed to work closely with Germany to strengthen and deepen the bilateral strategic partnership.

Merkel has extended a standing invitation to the PM to visit Germany on an official bilateral visit.

She also invited India to participate in Hanover Trade Fair as Partner Country in 2015, said Akbaruddin.

The MEA spokesperson said the PM also conveyed his good wishes to the German Chancellor on her 60th birthday.
Modi was earlier reported to had been planning to meet Merkel during his halt in Germany on way to Brazil for the BRICS summit. However, the PM could not meet her as the German Chancellor was busy cheering her country`s football team in FIFA World Cup finale in Rio de Janeiro.